Electric clock



Oct. 31, 1933. A. w. FOWLER ELECTRIC CLOCK Filed NOV. 8, 1929 3Sheets-Sheet l A. W. FOWLER Oct. 31, 1933.

ELECTRIC CLOCK s Sheets-She et 2 Filed Nov. .8, 1929 illllllllllllllllllllil lllllllllllllllllll Oct. 31, 1933. A. w. FOWLER ELECTRICcLock Filed Nov. 8, 1929v s Sheets-Sheet :s

Patented Oct. 31, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CLOCK ArnoW. Fowler, Highland, Ill.

Application November 8, 1929. Serial No. 405,834

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric clocks and time at the will of theuser.

clock to operate the alarm mechanism at any desired future time withinthe capacity of the clock.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alarm mechanism of thecharacter and type mentioned, in combination with means under control ofthe user for stopping the operation of the alarm independently of thetime indicating mechanism.

Other objects of the invention are to provide an improved electric clockpossessing any or all of the improved features and advantages hereindisclosed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in whichFig. 1 is a front elevation of a clock showing particularly the settingdevice for the alarm and the stop switch.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit and the switchestherein for controlling operation of the alarm.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view showing the mechanism for setting the alarmcontrolling switch for operation by the time indicating mechanism aftera predetermined interval of time.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

alarm.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the switch device shown inFig. 5.

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of the switch that is manually operative toopen the circuit and stop the alarm and that is also operative by thewinding mechanism to close the circuit for operation at the same timethat the switch shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is closed by the time indicatingmechanism; and is seen approximately from the 77 in Fig. 9.

line

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7 showing another position of theswitch and the device for operating said switch by the winding mechanismof the clock.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 7 and a sectionalview of a spring device that operates the time indicating mechanism.

The time indicating mechanism of the clock comprises a minute hand 1attached to the end of a rotary shaft or spindle 2 supported. in anysuitable manner by the clock frames 3. The hour hand 4 is attached toand operated by the hub 5 of a gear wheel 6 mounted on the shaft ofspindle 2 for independent rotation. The shaft or spindle 2 and the gearwheel 6 are independently rotated by trains of gearing operated by thegear wheel '7 rotatively supported by a shaft 8 and rotated about saidshaft by a clock spring 9. These trains of gearing for rotating theshaft 2 and the gear wheel 6 by the gear wheel 7 are not specificallyshown, as such mechanism is well known and the specific form of thesetrains of gears is immaterial. In fact, the shaft 2 and the gear wheel 6may be rotated by any suitable or known mechanism, including synchronousmotor clocks.

This clock includes an alarm device mounted in any convenient locationand this alarm is shown in Fig. 2 and comprises a bell 10. This bell maybe of the usual familiar type to be operated by an electromagnet to oneside of which the electric circuit wire 11 is connected. The otherelectric circuit wire 12 leads to connection with a resilient metallicbrush 13, one end of which presses against a metallic disc 14 which isbrought into and out of circuit with the opposite side of theelectromagnet for the bell 10 at predetermined times at the option ofthe user of the clock. The wires 11 and 12 lead to a. motor M that maybe used to wind the clock by appropriate connections.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the brush 13 is mounted on aninsulation support 15 and the metallic disc 14 is mounted on a hub 16supported for rotation on a hub 17 of insulating material. Thus, thedisc 14 and the hub 16 are insulated from the remaining parts of theclock other than the brush 13 until the time indicating mechanismcooperates with the disc 14 to close the circuit to the magnet foroperating the bell 10.

The disc 14 is rigid with a gear wheel 18 ,that is composed of fiber, orother appropriate insulating material, and which meshes with and isdriven by a pinion 19 integral or in rigid connection with the gearwheel 6 and the hub 5. It

ture 3 exerts is now clear that the gear wheel 18 is rotated at properspeed with the hour hand 4 of the clock, and is rotated by the samemechanism that rotates said hour hand 4.

A disc or ring 20 is composed of fiber, or other insulating substance,and is mounted in rigid connection with the metallic disc 14 and theinsulation gear wheel 18, so that said parts 14, 18 and 20 rotatetogether. The parts 14, 18 and 20 are clamped and secured together by aring or washer 21 attached to one end of the hub 16, which cooperateswith the flange 22 on the opposite end of the hub 16 for this purpose Asclearly shown in Fig. 4, the parts 14, 18 and 20 are clamped between theparts 21 and 22, which are rigid with the hub 16.

The ring 20 is a split ring having one end 23 (Figs. 5 and 6) twisted orbent laterally away from and out of alinement with the opposite end ofthe ring 20 which is flat against the metallic disc 14. A metallic piece24 extends between the disc 14 and the end 23 of the ring 20 and is inpermanent contact with the disc 14. This metallic piece 24 projectsbeyond the end 23 of the ring 20 and overlaps, but is spaced from, theopposite end of the ring 20. as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of thedrawings. This projecting end of the.

piece 24 is held at a distance from the end of the ring 20 which itoverlaps by an interposed piece of insulation 25. The metallic piece 24projects beyond the insulation piece 25 and constitutes part of themechanism controlled by the time indicating mechanism of the clock forclosing the circuit to the alarm device 10. It is now apparent that themetallic piece 24 is rotated with the metallic disc 14 and that both ofsaid parts are rigid with the insulation gear 18 and are insulated frointhe remaining mechanism of the clock other than the brush 13.

The insulation hub 17 is mounted loosely on a shaft 26 supported by theclock frame structure 3. A spring device 28 is loosely mounted on theshaft 26 and by engaging the frame strucpressure against the abutment 29rigid on the shaft 26. The spring device 28 is sufficient to hold theshaft 26 from displacement longitudinally. The abutment 29 does notengage nor retard the rotation of the hub 17. Therefore, the springdevice 28 does not interfere with the rotation of the wheel 18 by theentrained part of the time indicating mechanism. The shaft 26 is inelectrical communication with the frame structure 3 of the clock.

A metallic gear wheel 30 is attached to the shaft 26 and is rigid with ametallic ring 31 having a resilient metallic tongue 32 extendinglaterally and being of sufficient length and possessing a sufficientdegree of resiliency to contact at all times with the ring 20 and tosnap from the laterally bent end 23 of said ring 20 to contact with themetallic piece 24 so as to form electrical communication from themetallic disc 14 to the metallic frame structure 3 of the clock. Thewheel 30 is not rotated by the time indicating mechanism of the clockbut is manually settable so that this electrical communication from thedisc 14 to the metallic frame structure 3 of the clock willbeestablished at any predetermined time and automatically and as anincident to the operation of the time indicating mechanism of the clock.It is now clear that the structure above described establishes a ground33 (Fig. 2) to the clock frame.

The electromagnet signal device 10 is not grounded to the clock frameexcept through a switch device provided for that purpose. A wire 34 fromthe opposite side of the electromagnet from the wire 11 leads to acontact member 35 that is insulated from the clock frame. A switchmember 36 is in electrical communication with the clock frame through aground 3'7 and is movable by a lever 38 into and out of contact with thecontact member 35, so as to close and to open the circuit.Whenelectrical communication to the clock frame is established byoperation of the time indicating mechanism which brings the metallicpiece 24 into contact with the metallic tongue 32, it is clear that, ifthe switch 36 be in closed position, a circuit to the electro magnetsignal device 10 is established, and said signal device will beoperated. Said operation of the signal device will continue until thetime indicating mechanism of the clock moves the metallic piece 24beyond and out of contact with the metallic tongue 32 or until theswitch 36 be opened. Provision is made for opening the switch manuallyand optionally and for closing the switch automatically or manually.

The gear 30 meshes with a gear wheel 39 loosely mounted on the hub 5 forindependent rotation about said hub. A pointer 40, which alsoconstitutes a lever or handle, is attached to the gear wheel 39 andoperates in front of the dial of the clock to cooperate with the dialindications 41 so as to indicate to the operator the proper adjustmentof the mechanism, so that the alarm will be operated at anypredetermined time. Thus, by manually engaging and operating the pointer40, the gear wheel 30 may be turned to any desired extent, so as tolocate and position the resilient tongue 32 in a relationship to themetallic piece 24 whereby said metallic piece 24 will, after apredetermined interval, be brought into contact with the tongue 32, soas to close the circuit to the electromagnet signal device 10 and causesaid signal device to operate in the well understood manner.

The switch member 36 constitutes a part of the switch device of familiarconstruction and includes a housing 42 rigidly secured to the clock casestructure 27. The switch device comprises a lever 43 movable upwardly toone position to place the switch member 36 into contact with the contactmember 35. The switch member 36 is grounded to the frame structure 3 ofthe clock while the contact member 35 is insulated from the framestructure of the clock. By operating the lever 43 downwardly to theposition shown in Fig. 7, the switch 36 is moved to open position out ofcontact with the contact member 35, so that the magnetic signal device10 will not operate.

A gear wheel 44, included in the constantly operating mechanism of theclock and which is in constant rotation when the clock is running,supports two laterally projecting pins 45 and 46 between which extendsan arm 47 pivoted on the shaft 48 that supports the wheel 44. The lever38 extends into the path of movement of a pin 49 projecting laterallyfrom the arm 47. It is now clear that the arm 47 will be rotated by thewheel 44. The relationship of the pin 49 to the lever 38 is such thatonce during each revolution of the wheel 44 the pin 49 will be broughtinto operating contact with the lever 38 and will operate said lever 38effectively to close the switch 3635. Thus, some time after theswitch3635 has been opened by manual operation of the lever 43, said switch3635 will be closed automatically and as an incident to the running ofthe clock. This is because the pin 49 is operated by the constantlyrotating wheel 44 effectively to engage and operate the lever 38, so asto close said switch 3635. This exemplifies an embodiment of means forautomatically conditioning the clock for subsequent automatic operationof the magnetic signal 10 at any time at which the device 40 is set tocause said operation.

In operation of this alarm mechanism, it is; now clear that themechanism for operating the hour hand 4, and comprising the hub 5 withwhich the pinion 19 is rigid, is in constant operation. The pinion 19constantly rotates the gear wheel 18, so that, after any predeterminedperiod of time, the metallic contact member 24 will be carried aroundand into contact with the resilient brush 32. The electric circuit wire12 is thereby placed in electrical communication with the framestructure 3 of the clock, as indicated at 33 in Fig. 2. The switchmember, being in electrical communication with the frame structure 3 ofthe clock, as indicated at 3'? in Fig. 2, and also being in contact withthe contact member 35, will energize and operate the magnetic alarmdevice 10. This magnetic alarm device 10 will be operated because thewire 11 leads to one side thereof and the wire 34 from the contactmember 35 leads to .the other side of said magnetic alarm device. Thealarm will continue to operate until the gear wheel 18 is rotated adistance sufiicientto carry the metallic contact member 24 beyond andout of contact with the stationary tongue 32. However, the alarm may bestopped by opening the switch -36-35, for which purpose the manuallyoperated lever 43 is provided. The switch 3635 will be closedautomatically and as an incident to the running of the clock because thewheel 44 is in constant rotation and will rotate the arm 4'7, causingthe pin 49 on said arm 47 to engage and operate the switch lever 38,which also controls the switch member 36. The switch lever 38 will beoperated by the pin 49- a suflicient distance to cause the switch 36 tomove into contact with the contact member 35. Thus, the clock isconditioned for another operation of the alarm, which will occur at thepredetermined time or hour indicated by the pointer 40 on the dials 41.The hour of operation of the alarm may be varied optionally by turningthe pointer 40 to any hour on which it is desired to operate the alarm.The

alarm may be caused to operate at any time of the day or night. a

The construction, arrangement and relationship of the elements of thisinvention may be widely varied without departure from the .nature andprinciple of the invention. I contemplate such variations as will makethe best adaptation of the invention for the embodiment in which it isto be used, and many such, variations will be readily suggested to thoseskilled in this art. I do not restrict myself in any unessentialrespects, but what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electricallyoperative device, a dial, an electric circuit wire in connection withone side of said device, a second electric circuit wire in connectionwith the opposite'side of said device, a constantly rotating contactmember, a stationary contact member, a spindle, devices rotative aboutsaid spindles as an axis and co-operatthe period of time required forsaid members to electric circuit wire in connection with the ing withsaid dial to indicate the time and for changing the position of saidrotating contact member with respect to said stationary contact memberto vary the period of time required for said members'to make contact, anadditional device rotative about said spindle as an axis in cooperativerelation to said dial forchanging the position of said stationarycontactmember with respect to said rotating contact member to vary make contactand for indicating on said dial the time atwhichsaid members will makesaid contact, means for establishing electrical communication betweensaid two contact members once during each revolution of said rotating.contact member afterthe period of time determined by the relativepositions of said contact members, and means establishing electricalcommunication from said stationary contact member to said secondelectric circuit wire.

2. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electricallyoperative device, a time indicating dial, an electric circuit wire inconnection with one side of said device, an additional opposite side ofsaid device, a stationary contact member, means for establishingelectrical communication from said stationary contact member to saidadditional electric circuit wire, a constantly rotating contact member,a spindle, elements rotative about said splndle as an axis andcooperating with said dial to indicate the time and being operable torotate said rotating contact member to vary the period of time requiredfor said members to make contact, and means rotative about said spindleas an axis for setting said stationary contact member in differentselected positions for electrical communication with said rotatingcontact member after different intervals oftime and cooperating '115 lwith said dial to indicate the time at which said contact members willmake contact as aforesaid.

3. Mechanism of the character described comprising an electricallyoperative device, a time indicating dial, an electric circuit wire inconnection with one side of said device, an' additional electric circuitwire in connection with the opposite side of said device, a stationarycontact member, means for establishing electrical communication fromsaid stationary contact member to said additional electric circuit wire,a constantly rotating contact member, a constantly rotating spindle, anelement mounted on and rotative about and relative to said spindle,devices supported and operated by said spindle and said elementrespectively and'cooperating with said dial to indicate the time, meansfor rotating said constantly rotating contact member by said element andcausing saidrotating contact member to make contact with said stationarycontact member once during each revolution of said rotating contactmember, and means supported by and rotative about said element 'formoving said stationary contact member to different selected positionsfor electrical communication with said rotative contact member afterdifferent intervals of time and cooperating with said dial to indicatethe time at which said contact members will make contact as aforesaid.

ARNO W. FOWLER. 1'45

